A particularly unusual case has just been settled in the Modena Labor Court. A former employee of Ferrari, who was fired after exhibiting behavior deemed unacceptable toward a female colleague, sought nearly 200,000 euros in damages as well as reinstatement at the Maranello-based automaker. The judge ultimately rejected these claims, though he did award the former employee a limited amount of compensation.
A Relationship Gone Wrong at Ferrari
The story dates back several years to the Ferrari factory in Maranello. The man, who had been employed since 2012 in the department dedicated to «racing customers,» was having an extramarital affair with a female colleague who worked in the same department.
According to evidence presented in court, the relationship ended and the situation rapidly deteriorated. Ferrari then alleged that the employee engaged in a series of behaviors deemed inappropriate toward his former partner. The company cited calls made from anonymous numbers, persistent messages, intimidation, and behavior that could be considered harassment. The employee eventually reported the situation to Ferrari’s human resources department and to the authorities.
In light of these circumstances, the Prancing Horse brand initiated disciplinary proceedings before terminating the employee’s employment in July 2024.
Particularly aggressive messages
Documents cited during the legal proceedings reveal several messages sent to the colleague after the breakup. Some were sent via the company's communication systems.
The reported comments included, among other things, insults and verbal threats. One of the messages read: «You really disgust me; you’re repulsive. Get out of my sight, and if you see me, keep your head down—you’ll regret it.»
The young woman had already blocked her ex-boyfriend, but he reportedly continued to contact her through other means. Local authorities had also intervened. The prefect of Modena reportedly issued an official warning to the employee, asking him to immediately cease any problematic behavior, which he reportedly did.
A request for 200,000 euros was denied
After being fired, the former employee decided to file a claim with the Modena Labor Court. He sought reinstatement at Ferrari as well as compensation of approximately 200,000 euros. The judge, however, rejected these claims. According to the ruling, the alleged misconduct did in fact occur and constituted sufficient grounds to preclude the employee’s return to the company.
The court nevertheless found that the termination could be considered excessive given the circumstances. For this reason, the former employee was awarded compensation equivalent to fourteen months’ salary, with no possibility of being reinstated to his position.
According to labor law experts quoted in the Italian press, the ruling is rather unusual: the alleged misconduct was acknowledged—which ruled out reinstatement—but the judge found that the most severe penalty was not entirely justified from a legal standpoint.
This case sounds more like the plot of a TV series than an industrial dispute, but it also serves as a reminder that personal conflicts can sometimes have very real consequences within companies—including at Ferrari.
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